It’s the planning season with nonprofit teams throughout our region working tirelessly on new initiatives, partnerships, and strategies to bolster performance and address a dramatically shifting environment. The NorthSky team is involved in some of this work and we’ve been dazzled by an impressive display of innovation, open-mindedness, and yes, dare I say it, courage!
Change isn’t easy for anyone. And as dramatic as it sounds, it does take courage. Whether you’re the change agent championing a new approach or initiative that the rest of the team isn’t quite ready for, or the “changee” being pushed to do things differently; it’s tough work. Even the most positive change, such as moving to new office space, using new computer technology or enhancing management systems, can be uncomfortable and challenging.
Yet, being effective change agents and understanding when it’s time to take on change, is an essential skill and competency for nonprofit leadership. It’s an ongoing part of our nonprofit world and we need to be very good at it.
Some suggestions that come to mind as you embark on a major change:
1) Involve folks in the change. While it may be tempting to go underground and map out the strategy in a bunker, the more you involve people along the way, the more engaged and supportive they will be…even of unpopular changes. Let them help identify challenges and develop solutions.
2) Navigating successfully through major change requires superb communication skills. Understand all your constituent groups and how to effectively reach them. Listen and respond to their concerns. You may not be able to meet everyone’s needs but you can provide clear information and a forum to hear their issues.
3) Be honest even if it’s a difficult message to deliver.
4) Stay focused on your mission and your clients/ customers. While internal changes to operations, staffing, or structure, may be uncomfortable, if it means a better, more secure, or stable way of serving the community, it will be easier to accept.
We’re all going through a great deal of change right now. Any other suggestions to share?
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